Currie Cup action for the weekend kicks off tonight, with the Lions hosting a disappointing Griquas outfit, with no wins from their first three starts. The Lions sit at the top of the Currie Cup log, and will look to make full use of their home advantage and the availability of Elton Jantjes to stay there.

The Lions have made a few unnecessary changes, which seem silly, but coach Johan Ackermann seems to know what he is doing, and shifting Josh Struass to lock might be genius in the long run. Another change comes at halfback, where Ross Cronje gets a start ahead of Michael Bondesio.

Griquas coach Pote Human has also made changes, but these are more out of anger than anything else, as he struggles to find combinations that work in match conditions, with his team only managing to put together forty minutes of good rugby a match. Jean Stemmet comes into the midfield in place of Stefan Watermeyer, while Justin Downey drops to the bench In favour of Marnus Schoeman.

This match should be pretty close, as all Currie Cup encounters are this year so far, but I suspect the Lions will have too much in the tank for the pou-blou.

Scintillating stuff from the Griquas, resisting every natural instinct to kick, and running that ball with fine style, with backs and forwards interlinking.

I’m glad they came away with the win, keeps them in the race and definitely another team not to be taken lightly.

Truly the CC is a Top 6 competition. No bore resting players for the minnows, every game is make or break.

Comment 34, posted at 31.08.12 20:59:16 by FireTheLooser

I was a bit hesitant towards the new setup of our Premier Division but now it is just looking better than it was before. We now have a full-strength competition where anyone can win. Before we had 2 teams that were only in it to decide who ends 8th and who ends 7th. Although I love to see smaller unions play (which is impossible overhere in Holland, really guys… I need help with that) the top6 teams are just in their place now. No match is an easy one, no match can be taken for granted. If only I could find a source to watch some 1st Div. Currie Cup rugby…

I hope HM can see this team. Getting the basics of rugby right. As I said this week: A player is only there to support the other players, draw the opposition and pass the ball to a supporting player to create space. Schools rugby!
If they work on getting the basics of scrumming and line-outs right they will be a jr. NZ team. Well played (but for that short lapse in consentration.) This is also the way the sharks can play – Let us see if there is a coach who has learned from this!!

@West Indies Cricket Board (Comment 36) : Well, there is a national team. I played for the national team once but the level is not even close to Georgia or Romania. We are far removed from ever standing a chance of playing in the WOrld Cup haha. But I love rugby.

I just hope anyone can help me to find a decent stream for the Sharks match today.